1. State of the Union
Washington, D.C.
During the 2020 State of the Union address, delivered a day before his impeachment acquittal vote, President Donald Trump spoke about the economy, the country’s future and national security, while calling on Congress to pass legislation on issues including abortion and prescription drug prices. The 78-minute speech was watched by an estimated 37.2 million viewers. In April 2021, newly elected President Joe Biden delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress. The speech was pushed back to April to allow the new administration to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and pass the American Rescue Plan. An estimated 26.9 million people watched Biden’s first speech to Congress, which wasn't officially called a State of the Union address. Next: January 2022
During the 2020 State of the Union address, delivered a day before his impeachment acquittal vote, President Donald Trump spoke about the economy, the country’s future and national security, while calling on Congress to pass legislation on issues including abortion and prescription drug prices. The 78-minute speech was watched by an estimated 37.2 million viewers. In April 2021, newly elected President Joe Biden delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress. The speech was pushed back to April to allow the new administration to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and pass the American Rescue Plan. An estimated 26.9 million people watched Biden’s first speech to Congress, which wasn't officially called a State of the Union address. Next: January 2022
Photo: Adam Schultz
2. Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen, Colo.
The Aspen Institute, in partnership with The Atlantic magazine, hosts this festival that gathers global leaders across many disciplines to engage in discussion about the ideas and issues facing us today. In 2020, the event, usually held on the Aspen Institute campus, went digital, with experts and speakers—including Anna Deavere Smith, Anthony Fauci, Madeleine Albright, Kai-Fu Lee, Krista Tippett, Michael Eric Dyson, William McRaven and more—gracing the virtual stage. In late June/early July of this year, organizers once again presented a series of digital programs that explored issues ranging from democracy to science, centered around the theme, American Futures. NBCUniversal News Group just signed a multiyear exclusive partnership to broadcast the festival across its networks. Next: June 25-July 1, 2022
The Aspen Institute, in partnership with The Atlantic magazine, hosts this festival that gathers global leaders across many disciplines to engage in discussion about the ideas and issues facing us today. In 2020, the event, usually held on the Aspen Institute campus, went digital, with experts and speakers—including Anna Deavere Smith, Anthony Fauci, Madeleine Albright, Kai-Fu Lee, Krista Tippett, Michael Eric Dyson, William McRaven and more—gracing the virtual stage. In late June/early July of this year, organizers once again presented a series of digital programs that explored issues ranging from democracy to science, centered around the theme, American Futures. NBCUniversal News Group just signed a multiyear exclusive partnership to broadcast the festival across its networks. Next: June 25-July 1, 2022
Screenshot: Aspen Ideas Festival
3. ESSENCE Festival
New Orleans
In 2020, the ESSENCE Festival, a celebration of black culture presented by Coca-Cola, transformed into a virtual experience, spanning two weekends in late June and early July. The new format allowed organizers to react to current events and tailor the festival’s programming around hot-button issues including the protests around social injustice. Programming included ​​workouts, beauty tutorials, personal finance lessons, Sunday sermons, panels and nighttime concerts. The festival returned to New Orleans in 2021 with a hybrid event, with virtual programming that was similar to the previous year, along with outdoor concerts, drive-in experiences, masterclasses and panel discussions, all held on mobile stages in remote locations throughout the city. Next: Jul 1-3, 2022
See more: How the ESSENCE Festival Returned to New Orleans With a Hybrid Event
In 2020, the ESSENCE Festival, a celebration of black culture presented by Coca-Cola, transformed into a virtual experience, spanning two weekends in late June and early July. The new format allowed organizers to react to current events and tailor the festival’s programming around hot-button issues including the protests around social injustice. Programming included ​​workouts, beauty tutorials, personal finance lessons, Sunday sermons, panels and nighttime concerts. The festival returned to New Orleans in 2021 with a hybrid event, with virtual programming that was similar to the previous year, along with outdoor concerts, drive-in experiences, masterclasses and panel discussions, all held on mobile stages in remote locations throughout the city. Next: Jul 1-3, 2022
See more: How the ESSENCE Festival Returned to New Orleans With a Hybrid Event
Photo: Colin Miller
4. New Yorker Festival
New York
Building on the success of last year’s expanded, weeklong virtual version, The New Yorker Festival presented a hybrid format with both virtual and outdoor events in 2021—and generated its second-highest revenue ever, trailing only its 2019 event, which attracted 20,000 in-person attendees. The 22nd annual event, which brings together big names in politics, film, TV, music, comedy, literature and food, spanned seven days and featured a mix of talks, panel discussions, performances, screenings and experiences. The festival wrapped up with a virtual conversation with comedian and host Jon Stewart. Next: TBD 2022
Building on the success of last year’s expanded, weeklong virtual version, The New Yorker Festival presented a hybrid format with both virtual and outdoor events in 2021—and generated its second-highest revenue ever, trailing only its 2019 event, which attracted 20,000 in-person attendees. The 22nd annual event, which brings together big names in politics, film, TV, music, comedy, literature and food, spanned seven days and featured a mix of talks, panel discussions, performances, screenings and experiences. The festival wrapped up with a virtual conversation with comedian and host Jon Stewart. Next: TBD 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Conde Nast
5. Netroots Nation Conference
Virtual
Instead of gathering in Denver in 2020, as was originally planned, attendees congregated remotely for the largest annual conference for progressives in the United States. In 2021, the virtual conference featured more than 100 hours of live, interactive content including keynotes, panels, trainings, yoga sessions and kid-friendly programming. Notable speakers included Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Katie Porter. Next: TBD 2022
Instead of gathering in Denver in 2020, as was originally planned, attendees congregated remotely for the largest annual conference for progressives in the United States. In 2021, the virtual conference featured more than 100 hours of live, interactive content including keynotes, panels, trainings, yoga sessions and kid-friendly programming. Notable speakers included Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Katie Porter. Next: TBD 2022
Screenshot: Courtesy of Netroots Nation
6. Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner
New York
Held in New York for more than 70 years, this bipartisan, white-tie fundraiser is named for the country’s first Roman Catholic presidential nominee. This year’s 76th annual dinner, which took place at the Javits Center in October, commemorated 75 years of the event, with Condoleezza Rice serving as keynote speaker. The evening also featured prerecorded video remarks by President George W. Bush. The foundation was unable to host the dinner last year due to the pandemic. Instead, organizers hosted a virtual event, featuring the 2020 presidential nominees as keynote speakers. Next: TBD 2022
Held in New York for more than 70 years, this bipartisan, white-tie fundraiser is named for the country’s first Roman Catholic presidential nominee. This year’s 76th annual dinner, which took place at the Javits Center in October, commemorated 75 years of the event, with Condoleezza Rice serving as keynote speaker. The evening also featured prerecorded video remarks by President George W. Bush. The foundation was unable to host the dinner last year due to the pandemic. Instead, organizers hosted a virtual event, featuring the 2020 presidential nominees as keynote speakers. Next: TBD 2022
Photo: Courtesy of Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation
7. Scotiabank Giller Prize Gala
Toronto
In 2020, Canada’s premier literary gala—where the top literati gather and writers vie for the big prize—was rejiggered into a televised ceremony hosted by Canadian actor Eric McCormack, and featured a mix of pretaped and live portions. Because the proceedings were moved online, thus lowering the costs of the ceremony, prize organizers donated $25,000 each to the Indigenous Voices Awards and Diaspora Dialogues, an initiative to support diverse writers. This year’s gala will be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in downtown Toronto, but given the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the size of the event will be greatly reduced in number and scope. It will be hosted by Canadian actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and poet Rupi Kaur. Next: Nov. 8, 2021
In 2020, Canada’s premier literary gala—where the top literati gather and writers vie for the big prize—was rejiggered into a televised ceremony hosted by Canadian actor Eric McCormack, and featured a mix of pretaped and live portions. Because the proceedings were moved online, thus lowering the costs of the ceremony, prize organizers donated $25,000 each to the Indigenous Voices Awards and Diaspora Dialogues, an initiative to support diverse writers. This year’s gala will be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in downtown Toronto, but given the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the size of the event will be greatly reduced in number and scope. It will be hosted by Canadian actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and poet Rupi Kaur. Next: Nov. 8, 2021
Photo: Ryan Emberley
8. Blue Metropolis
Montreal
This year, the 23rd edition of one of the largest multilingual literary festivals in North America featured more than 50 virtual events with 200 artists, centered around the theme, The Challenges of Our Times. Organizers also handed out seven literary prizes, including those from last year’s canceled festival. A new series of events, called Eight Headlining Events, was introduced; it brought together internationally renowned authors to take on a wide variety of issues, including African philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne on postcolonial memories and Indigenous authors Kim Scott, Gregory Scofield and Devon A. Mihesuah on the intersection of art and activism. Next: TBD 2022
This year, the 23rd edition of one of the largest multilingual literary festivals in North America featured more than 50 virtual events with 200 artists, centered around the theme, The Challenges of Our Times. Organizers also handed out seven literary prizes, including those from last year’s canceled festival. A new series of events, called Eight Headlining Events, was introduced; it brought together internationally renowned authors to take on a wide variety of issues, including African philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne on postcolonial memories and Indigenous authors Kim Scott, Gregory Scofield and Devon A. Mihesuah on the intersection of art and activism. Next: TBD 2022
Screenshot: Courtesy of Blue Metropolis
